Fifty-year-old Čapek is a graduate of the Pardubice Alma Mater. He received his engineering degree in the field of Technical Analytical and Physical Chemistry. In 2009 he became an associate professor and in 2017 a professor in the field of Physical Chemistry. He is the 11th rector to head this university.
“I am glad that the academic senate gave me the chance to lead the university for the next four years. I would like to strengthen the brand of the University of Pardubice, establish new strategic partnerships. In the educational part, it will be important to strengthen the competences of students in order to reduce academic failure and increase interest in studies, especially for those students for whom studying at our university will be the first choice,” said Libor Čapek, the former rector of the University of Pardubice.
This year is significant for Czech and Moravian universities in that ten new or old rectors took their helm. On Wednesday, the new rector of Charles University, Jiří Zima, was ceremonially inaugurated. On Friday, on the other hand, the public said goodbye forever to its long-time rector Karl Malý.
“This year was challenging due to the preparation of the substantive law on universities. There is a consensus that a number of provisions of the current law no longer fully correspond to the current situation or the scope of activities that universities carry out today. It will be necessary to focus on the relations between individual school bodies, between rectors and faculties and others. If they cooperate well, the system works, but if they do not, the management of the university becomes complicated,” said Milan Pospíšil, president and rector of VŠCHT, for the Czech Conference of Rectors, adding that the Czech Conference rectors is ready to actively participate in the preparation of the law.
Part of the festive academic ceremony was also the handing over of insignia to the vice-rectors and the awarding of personalities who have significantly contributed to the development of the university or long-term support of its activities.
“The university relies on people who, with their ideas, work and determination, develop it in the long term. I am glad that we were able to honor personalities who significantly contribute to the development of our university on this occasion,” said Čapek.
Lenderová received the highest award
The highest scientific award, the Rector’s Plaque of the University of Pardubice, was won by historian Milena Lenderová from the Faculty of Philosophy, for her extraordinary activities in scientific research and creative activities and for her long-term contribution to the development of historical sciences and the historical community in the Czech Republic and abroad.
The Rector also awarded Medals for Merit to the University of Pardubice to Zdenek Němc from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics and in memoriam to Jiří Izer from the Jan Perner Faculty of Transport, for his significant contribution to the development of the faculty and for extraordinary activities in the field of rolling stock. The award was accepted by his wife together with a close colleague.
Rector Čapek further praised five personalities for their significant contribution to the development of Pardubice University. Another twenty personalities with whom the university cooperates received medals for cooperation. Among them was, for example, the general director of the National Monument Institute, Naděžda Goryczková.
